Concluding a Disney Week

Johnny Tremain for Summer 1957

This showed up on TCM last week, along with a Disneyland episode that amounted to an hour long trailer for Johnny Tremain. Patriotism must have run rife through the land to see so much celebrated along US history line, TV and movies cracking binders on varied fights for freedom taught then by schools, thus known by youth. And it wasn't just Walt that taught. MGM had The Scarlet Coat out in 1955, and eastward went director George Seaton and VistaVision cameras to tell Williamsburg--- The Story Of A Patriot. Maybe word of the latter spurred Disney toward revolution recap, though Variety said it was "an attempt to build another Davy Crockett bonanza," this borne out by much of talent from the latter put to work on Johnny Tremain. Playing it after 58 years to TCM's class earns apple for teacher --- Tremain really is fresh meat on cable's counter --- plus this to the network's credit: JT played HD and proper 1.85. The show hasn't looked so fine since 1957.

The project was lit in summer 1956 for start date of August 6 (later delayed to September), under direction of Robert Stevenson, himself a native Redcoat, but rehabbed to Yank assignments since arriving to colonies in the early 40's. There had been a Tremain vid series in 1953, beamed over NBC, but forgot since. Idea was for two parts on Disneyland, follow-ups to come if the concept made good. In fact, trades were already calling it a "series." All of shooting would be done at Burbank, this being TV after all, with no concession to big screening other than color (just in case) and wide ratio. Disney had learned from Davy Crockett to cover all bases. He'd not discount theatrical from selling equations again. Still, it was economies first, and that put limit on period-dressed streets (we see but a few), with matte work (nicely) filling backgrounds. Johnny Tremain plays much like pageants and outdoor dramas that were then-popular recreation of history, its drama paced along lines of Williamsburg --- The Story Of A Patriot. Had Seaton given a Walt a preview? (Williamsburg was first public-shown in 3/57)

Casting was keyed to teen watchers of Disneyland, the company getting foothold on a market more lucrative by the day. If young stars could be born on The Mickey Mouse Club, why not here? Old and new were called --- Hal Stalmaster in the title part, his a Disney career that would stall, but there was vet Luana Patten, no longer the tot of 40's packaging (Song Of The South, Fun and Fancy Free, others), but having to be borrowed by Walt from contract-holder U-I. Lensing wrapped in October '56, the boss taking a look at result and telling trades on 10/24 that he'd hold Johnny Tremain for July 4 theatrical dates in 1957. One million had been spent on the neg, Tremain "figured to show a quick profit (in theatres), while TV showing wouldn't show any net," said Variety. Unusual care had been taken on the project in any case, Stevenson reporting that he shot tests for every actor in for more than a day, "I'm sure that's never happened in TV before," said the director.

Johnny Tremain would be summer-shown along with Old Yeller and Perri in 1957, idea being to tie-in with Independence Day. Spring of the year saw King Features syndicating a 13-part color comics telling of Johnny Tremain, that to conclude in time for playdates. Twenty other manufacturers were aboard as well for product support, all with notion Johnny might take off like Davy Crockett. Trade reviews were mixed at best, Variety calling Johnny Tremain "but fair entertainment at best," with B.O. prospects "spotty." Overall consensus was too much schoolbook at expense of action. Disney wanted authenticity and got it, but maybe history dealt him a weak hand, if events happened so languidly as shown here (no resistance to the Boston Tea Party, but assume that's how it happened). Citations came from libraries and better pic groups, but these wouldn't deposit so well at banks.

A New England launch for June 4, 1957 was expected, the Boston preem to honor source novelist Esther Forbes. Johnny Tremain would go from there to saturation at seventeen northeast venues for late June. Returns were variable. At some spots, business was fine ("solidly" in Boston, natch), while others, like Portland, reported "major disappointment." Omaha's newspaper critic handed Johnny a pan, result but "fair" biz, said trades. Walt Disney himself made a stadium appearance in Evanston, Illinois and brought Hal Stalmaster, along with the Mouseketeers and Fess Parker, all in for July 4 with the place jammed. Minneapolis posted grim tiding re Johnny Tremain, which for the town's RKO Orpheum failed to last a second week or merit a move-over to another first-run venue. Disneyland was blamed, "too many of the youngsters have watched Tremain on video," said management.

A Few Of Hoops To Jump Through When You 16mm-Rented WD Pics

Here was a major issue, for recent check of that Disneyland has Walt pretty much giving the show away, with scenes and narration recounting Johnny Tremain from start to end. ABC broadcast The Liberty Story on May 29. Tube-viewing Walt's summary of Johnny Tremain would, for many, save time and expense of theatre-going, surely not his design, but very much the outcome, at least in Minneapolis. Johnny Tremain soon enough tube-played, per original design, first on Disneyland in November and December 1958 as retitled two-part The Boston Tea Party and The Shot That Was Heard Around The World, then on NBC as late as February 1975. Audio Brandon and other non-theatrical suppliers offered Johnny Tremain at $60 daily rental during 16mm heyday that was the seventies. The film can be had on DVD, albeit full-frame, while Amazon Instant streams Johnny Tremain in HD and wide.

A Disney arrival this week not to be missed: the latest of Didier Ghez's book series, Walt's People, Volume 16. This collection of interviews, like all of previous ones, is a must.